Severe Weather Possible Wednesday for Flooded Areas
Portions of Iowa, Missouri, Illinois Could See Heavy Rains
Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, May 5, 2009 – Targeted for possible severe weather Wednesday, parts of Iowa, Missouri and Illinois could see aggravated flooding problems Tuesday, according to NOAA weather forecasters. Most of Tuesday’s predicted rain and thunderstorms will miss Missouri, but rains in Iowa will add to runoff that already has the Mississippi River and some tributaries in moderate to major flood.
Forecasters have focused Tuesday mostly on south-central Oklahoma and north-central Texas, an area at moderate risk for severe weather. An expanded area including northern Louisiana and southwestern Arkansas is at slight risk for severe weather development.
Two sections of the country are at slight risk for severe weather development Wednesday. Southeast Iowa, northeastern Missouri, central and west-Central Illinois comprise one area. The other extends from east Texas across Gulf Coast States and the Ohio Valley to southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Severe weather is a possibility Thursday for eastern Oklahoma; southeastern Kansas; southern Missouri, Illinois and Indiana; Arkansas; northern Louisiana; northwestern Mississippi; and most of Tennessee and Kentucky.
See severe weather outlook details at http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook. Details of today’s weather threats can be seen on the map from NOAA’s Hydrometeorological Prediction Center at http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/noaa/noaa.gif.
Heavy rain from the severe thunderstorms will contribute to flood problems and extend the river flooding problems along the state lines of Iowa, Missouri and Illinois.
The Illinois River serves as an example for much of the area. The Illinois River at La Grange Lock and Dam TW was at 28.3 feet at 12 1.m. CDT May 5 and expected to crest at 28.9 feet May 7-8, then begin a slow fall. Major flood stage is 27 feet.
The Illinois was at 440.81 feet at Meridosia at 5:15 a.m. and expected to crest at 28.9 feet May 7-8 before beginning a slow fall. Major flood stage is 438 feet.
Flooding also continues to ease along the James and Red Rivers in South Dakota and North Dakota. The Sheyenne River at the West Fargo (N.D.) Diversion was still at major flood levels Tuesday morning (measured at 22.11 feet at 5:15 a.m.) and expected to stay at or just above 22 feet until May 9. The Red River at Fargo was at 23.94 feet at 5:15 a.m. Tuesday (moderate stage is 25 feet) and expected to continue its slow fall to about 21 feet around May 12. The Red River was also at moderate stage Tuesday morning in Grand Forks, measuring 36.21 feet at 5:30 a.m. Moderate stage is 40 feet.
Flood details for the Red River are at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=fgf.
The James River in South Dakota remains at major flood levels at Columbia, Stratford, Ashton and Huron. Details on the James River are at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=abr. Flood details for all U.S. locations can be found at http://www.weather.gov/ahps.
Local weather forecasts and current conditions may be seen by selecting the desired location on the U.S. weather map at http://weather.gov.
Contact: Public Affairs Specialist Patrick Slattery, 816-268-3135.
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